Meanings
- An accent and variety of the English language spoken by researchers living on the continent of Antarctica, being a mixture of their native languages and neologisms for concepts relating to the continent and daily life, such as the types and characteristics of ice, equipment and routine.
One of the characteristics of Antarctic English usage as it emerges from the dictionary is eclecticism: many global strands come together to create a unique South-Polar vocabulary.
2002, Tom McArthur, “Antarctica, the Falklands and the South Antarctic Islands”, in The Oxford Guide to World English, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 4062 more examples
We are likely to consider Antarctic English as an occupational variety of general English rather than a new regional variety, mainly because men go to work in the Antarctic for a period, intending to return. They are not settlers.
1972, George William Turner, The English Language in Australia and New Zealand, Longman, →ISBN, page 67A New Zealand linguistics doctorate graduate from the University of Canterbury has completed a world-first study into colloquial Antarctic English, spoken at the US, British and New Zealand Antarctic research stations.
2024 June 20, Eva Corlett, “Fidlets, fingies and riding a doo: study sheds light on Antarctic English slang”, in The Guardian
Cite this entry
Antarctic English. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Antarctic%20English
“Antarctic English.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Antarctic%20English. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Antarctic English,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Antarctic%20English.
Source: Antarctic English on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.